Assad Government Moves Thousands of Bodies to Hidden Syrian Desert Mass Grave

A Reuters investigation has revealed that the regime of Bashar al-Assad conducted a secret operation, termed "Operation Move Earth," to relocate thousands of bodies from a mass grave near Damascus to a larger, concealed burial site in the Syrian desert. This transfer, which occurred between 2019 and 2021, aimed to hide evidence of mass killings during Assad's rule as he attempted to improve his international image. The original grave in Qutayfah, exposed by activists, was emptied with the remains transported to a military site near Dhumair, where at least 34 burial trenches spanning over a mile hold tens of thousands of bodies. Forensic geologists and soil analysis techniques, alongside thousands of drone and satellite images, corroborate the transfer, supported by witness testimony from individuals involved in the operation and official documents reviewed by reporters. The investigation highlights the complexity of the evidence, emphasizing that soil comparison is just one element combined with intelligence, witness accounts, and extensive imagery analysis. The precise location of the new grave is being kept confidential to protect the site before proper protection and investigation can occur.